“Great Generals win Empires.”
Like Napoleon?
In Russia?
Or at Waterloo?
BTW, many Great Generals had no desire to win Empires. Some victorious countries did not seek Empires.
Napoleon is a poor example.
At least start with Alexander the Great. His Empire & influence lasted well over 5 centuries in a good portion of what he conquered.
Publius Scipio Aemilianus.
Julius Caesar is a good one. Justinian had his moments.
Charlemagne too.
Pizarro, Cortes, Diego Velazquez de Cuellar.
Every single one of these Generals had impacts that lasted centuries.